Do you ever get overwhelmed when people talk about daily rituals? I used to feel like my morning routines were never enough for what everyone else’s daily self care looked like. But it wasn’t until I started noticing routines in my mornings that are special to my daily life and mindset that I realized “hey! I do have rituals!” I think it is important to remember that YOUR version of a ritual doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s version. For example, meditation. My version of meditations is completely opposite from sitting in silence with my legs crossed taking deep breaths. Sometimes my version of meditation is dancing naked to T-Pain. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be yours!
7 daily rituals that are important to me
Every morning when I wake up I take a ginger shot. It’s the first thing that goes into my body. I don’t know why but I feel like it helps my digestion, helps my immunity, feels like a little version of self care for myself before I start my day. I usually buy them at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods.
I don’t look at my phone until 8am. This is a newer habit that I’m trying to make a routine (don’t they say it takes 21 days?). Our mornings are crazy with school and getting the kids ready for the day and it is really easy for me to get sucked into emails or Instagram when I truly don’t have the time for distraction. So I leave my phone in my room and just focus on my family for the first 2 hours of the day.
I plan my exercise the night before. Whether that means signing up for a work out class or blocking out 30/60 minutes of my day for a walk. I just know if it is on my schedule the night before I won’t break it in the morning.
I take a probiotic. Sounds small enough but I am so bad at taking any sort of vitamin for myself. But I started taking SEED in the new year (recommended by some friends!) and do feel better knowing my insides are feeling good!
I give myself a pep talk. It could be as simple as “Liz, you’ve got this!” or a few others I like to say:
“Liz, you are going to take advantage of every hour of the day today”
“Liz, you are healthy and energetic and ALIVE!”
“Liz, you are capable and deserving of all the things”
“Liz, don’t second guess what you know in your gut to be true.”
…anything, just nurture your relationship with yourself.
I take a moment to ask Dave how he is doing. I feel like this sets the tone for our day and how we work together, around each other and beyond. It is such a small gesture but it is really easy for Dave to sort of be forgotten in my day (sorry Dave!). Like everything else is on my radar – the kids, laundry, meals to make, grocery shopping, picking up, kids sports, etc. – but I feel like this checkin is important for our relationship. It opens up conversations that need to be had and just acts as a little check in for each other.
I drink at least 100oz of water today, usually this is closer to 120 but I feel SO MUCH BETTER when I drink a lot of water. My body metabolizes better, I feel less bloated, my skin is clearer, my hair is softer – it really changes everything and I feel very good about myself when I do this.
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